Eagles capitalize on TOs in 34-27 win over Hokies

KEN POWTAK , Associated Press

Nov. 2, 20134:48 PM ET

BOSTON (AP) — Linebacker Kevin Pierre-Lewis had a 33-yard interception return for a touchdown midway into the fourth quarter and Andre Williams ran for a pair of scores, lifting Boston College to a 34-27 win over Virginia Tech on Saturday afternoon.

Winslow Townson

Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas, left, is sacked by Boston College's Steele Divitto during the first half of a college football game at Alumni Stadium in Boston, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas, left, is sacked by Boston College's Steele Divitto during the first half of a college football game at Alumni Stadium in Boston, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas throws down field against the rush from Boston College's Kasim Edebali (91) during the first half of an NCAA college football game at Alumni Stadium in Boston, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

Boston College quarterback Chase Rettig scrambles away from Virginia Tech's James Gayle (99) during the first half of a college football game at Alumni Stadium in Boston, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

Virginia Tech place kicker Cody Journell (89) celebrates his 56-yard field goal against Boston College during the first half of an NCAA college football game at Alumni Stadium in Boston, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

Boston College's Bryce Jones (17) sends Virginia Tech receiver Charley Mayer flying with a tackle during the first half of a college football game at Alumni Stadium in Boston, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

Williams carried 33 times for 166 yards and Chase Rettig completed 11 of 14 passes for 93 yards and a TD for Boston College (4-4, 2-3 Atlantic Coast Conference).

Virginia Tech's Logan Thomas completed 24 of 41 passes for 391 yards and two TDs, but was picked off twice and fumbled twice, leading to 17 of Boston College's points.

The Eagles had lost the last five meetings between the schools.

The Hokies (6-3, 3-2 ACC) took their third lead of the game on Cody Journell's 47-yard field goal — his second long one of the day — 1:52 into the final quarter. But BC rallied again, tying it on Nate Freese's 43-yard field goal midway into the fourth quarter.

On the next possession with a third-and-5 from his own 30, Thomas, under pressure and back pedaling, threw a floating pass over the middle that Pierre-Louis picked off and broke down the right sideline for the go-ahead score with 7 minutes to play.

After BC stopped the Hokies on a fourth-and-6 from its own 38, Williams burst through the right side of the line for a 62-yard score on the next play.

Thomas hit Trey Edmunds with a 22-yard TD pass with 2:54 to play, cutting it to 34-27.

The Hokies took over on their own 28 with 1:49 to play, but Thomas fumbled it away again three plays later.

Journell's career-best, 56-yard field goal with 1 second left in the second quarter had given the Hokies a 10-7 halftime edge. It tied Paul Engle's 1977 kick for the third longest in school history. Wayne Latimer owns the record with a 61-yarder, against Florida State in 1975.

The Eagles tied at 10-all on Freese's 25-yard field goal after corner back Manny Asprilla's interception and return down the left sideline to Virginia Tech's 15 early in the third quarter.

On the ensuing possession, Thomas hit Joshua Stanford over the middle and he broke a pair of tackles for a 69-yard reception down to the 1. The Eagles held on three rushing attempts before Thomas hit Kalvin Cline with the scoring toss off a play-action to push the Hokies back in front 17-10 midway into the third.

BC forced another turnover when Kasim Edebali stripped Thomas and Brian Mihalik recovered it at the Hokies' 17. Rettig's 2-yard TD pass to fullback Jake Sinkovec tied it at 17-all late in the third.

Journell had missed two attempts — from 40 and 45 yards — in last week's 13-10 embarrassing loss at home against Duke. The Hokies fell out of The AP Top 25 in this week's poll.

Trailing 7-0 after sputtering on offense in the first quarter, the Hokies marched 76 yards in nine plays, tying the game on Edmunds' 1-yard run midway into the second quarter. The score was set up by Thomas' 25-yard strike to D.J. Coles, which moved the ball to the 1.

Late in the opening half, Virginia Tech took over at its own 18 and moved 43 yards in nine plays before Journell nailed his field goal, a low line drive that knuckled over the crossbar. Four plays earlier, the Hokies had a 46-yard TD pass from Thomas to Edmunds nullified by a holding penalty against center David Wang.

The Eagles had jumped ahead 7-0 on Williams' 19-yard TD run late in the first quarter. Williams, who entered the week as the nation's fifth-leading rusher at 144.3 yards per game, broke three tackles — the last about 8 yards away from the goal line against Kyshoen Jarrett — before going in for the score. Rettig set up the score with a 19-yard scramble on third-and-10 from the Hokies' 38.

The stands were fairly empty when the game started, likely reduced by a number attending or watching a parade that honored the World Series champion Red Sox. Late in the second quarter — nearly 3 hours after the "rolling rally" started about 2 miles away at Fenway Park — it looked like the usual-sized crowd at Alumni Stadium.

BOSTON (AP) — Linebacker Kevin Pierre-Lewis had a 33-yard interception return for a touchdown midway into the fourth quarter and Andre Williams ran for a pair of scores, lifting Boston College to a 34-27 win over Virginia Tech on Saturday afternoon.